Satala signs deal with Gloucester Rugby

Apo Satala, the Army number eight and former Leeds Carnegie player, has signed a contract with Gloucester until the end of the season.

Although he will still be eligible for key Army matches, Satala has made a big impression during pre-season and in a number of A team games while he has been on trial at Kingsholm. He will sit on the bench against Newcastle in the Guinness Premiership tonight.

The Fijian sevens star made his Gloucester debut as a replacement against Glasgow in August and Gloucester’s head coach Dean Ryan said: “We have been hugely impressed by Apo since his involvement with us.

“His skill set has been exposed and enhanced on the sevens circuit, he is a tremendous physical presence and has added a great deal to our squad in the short time he has been involved with us. I am looking forward to working with him for the rest of the season because what we have seen so far has been very exciting.

“We naturally have a lot of quality across our back row and Apo will only add to that. I would like to thank the Army for their co-operation in allowing this deal to happen.”

Satala, who scored twice for Leeds last season against Bath in the Guinness Premiership, added: “To be given this opportunity with Gloucester is something I will relish and it is now up to me to work as hard as I can.